Top QB recruit picks Southern Cal over Tennessee

Top QB recruit picks Southern Cal over Tennessee

The University of Tennessee football program received another public rejection Thursday in its bit to add a much-needed quarterback to the 2010 signing class.

Jesse Scroggins, a highly rated prospect from Lakewood, Calif., announced his commitment to nearby Southern California on ESPN.

The Volunteers, who don't have a quarterback on campus from the past three signing classes, have doggedly pursued Scroggins for months. The talented thrower consistently kept UT near the top of his list, but his recruitment took a sharp turn when Southern Cal extended a firm offer.

Scroggins, whose mother's family is from Tennessee, said he would have been comfortable at UT but couldn't turn down the powerhouse program in his "back yard."

The NCAA forbids college coaches from commenting on unsigned prospects, but the Vols are known to be actively pursuing several other quarterbacks -- many of whom are committed to other schools.

Nick Lamaison, a junior college All-American from California, could enroll this fall with three years of eligibility remaining. Lamaison's junior college posted and then removed a story (quoting his offensive coordinator) on its Web site earlier this month that announced his UT commitment. The player hasn't commented on the record since that incident, but he has never denied the mutual interest between himself and the Vols' coaches.